Reporter breaks away to sail across the ice in 'guy sport'

Drifting off to sleep at night, I can't think about hockey, or suddenly I'll be wide awake— my mind starting to race from play to play, and my adrenaline pumping as I imagine tearing up the ice on a breakaway ...

Sure, you can fork over $300 to Delta for the pleasure of sitting on a giant cattle cart with wings, but the only way I ever feel like I'm flying is when I'm gliding along the ice, leaving snow and other players in the dust.

There are a lot of misconceptions about hockey — I'm perplexed by those who still see it exclusively as a "guy's" sport, but I'm sure the same curmudgeons dismiss women's basketball and think of "tough" as only a male attribute.

Some people even see hockey as a violent sport, but that would be like associating karate with brawling, instead of appreciating the skill and discipline that go into it.

Think of hockey as a chess game: If you approach the goalie directly and take a shot, nine times out of 10 the goalie will stop the shot, because he or she has the advantage.

But what if instead you passed the puck quickly to a teammate, who redirects it before the goalie can react?

Checkmate.

With less friction to hold you back, and a full set of pads to cushion your fall, hockey can lead to some incredible athletic feats. Not to mention, professional hockey players can skate up to 30 mph and have a slapshot more than 100 mph, which leads to some fast-paced action.

Once I saw The Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin — as he was being knocked over — slide and shoot the puck over his head backward for a goal so beautiful that — well, my husband doesn't know it yet, but I've since decided to name all my children Ovechkin.

Hockey is a great sport for South Carolina, not just because it's the second-highest calorie-burning sport behind swimming, but also because, well, frankly, any sport played in the heat and humidity of a Lowcountry summer, instead of say, a nice 50-degree ice rink, can be brutal. Even if you think Ice is a rap star, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this team-based sport whether it be on ice, Rollerblades or the street.

And this is a big weekend for Southern hockey girls: USA hockey is holding the Girls Southeastern District Tryouts right here in Charleston. If you're a girl with a birth year between 1989 and 1993 inclusively, you can "take a shot" at the Southeast District Select 18 and under and 14 and under teams, the Southeast District High School Select team, summer camps and more.

Or if you just want to try for the first time, check your local ice rink for "learn to play" and youth leagues while summer leagues are forming.

Reach Lucia Walinchus at 937-5921.